Though International Women’s Day is behind us, we are continuing to spotlight voices from across the industry as part of our IWD Voices series, with leaders sharing their journeys, experiences, insights, and the lessons that have shaped them.
Next up, we speak with Dr. Aisshwarya Panddit, Celebrity Cosmetic Doctor and Founder at AuraEdge Aesthetic & Wellness.
In our conversation, Aisshwarya reflects on what this year’s IWD theme means to her in the context of aesthetic medicine, and how her understanding of fairness has shifted from equal access to active protection — including refusing procedures that compromise long-term health.
She also discusses the consultation-led model she has built at AuraEdge, her concerns about the speed of trend cycles and their impact on young women, and the workplace change she most wants to see for the next generation.
The theme for International Women’s Day 2026 is “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.” What does this mean to you professionally and personally?
For me, this theme is deeply personal. In aesthetic medicine, I work at the intersection of confidence, identity, and self-perception. Women have the right to feel confident in their own skin, but they also have the right to honest guidance, ethical boundaries, and protection from exploitative beauty standards.
Professionally, “Rights. Justice. Action.” means advocating for informed consent and responsible medicine. It means ensuring that every woman who walks into my clinic is educated, not influenced; empowered, not pressured. Justice in my industry is about saying no when a treatment isn’t right, even if it’s trending.
Personally, it reminds me that empowerment is not about transformation. It is about choice, safety, and dignity. True action is creating spaces where women can explore enhancement without fear, shame, or unrealistic expectations.
What first drew you to your industry, and was there a defining moment that set your career in motion? Was there a role model who influenced you early on?
I was always fascinated by the relationship between science and self-image. As a medical student, I realised that aesthetic medicine was not superficial. It was psychological, anatomical, and deeply human.
The defining moment for me was seeing how subtle enhancement could shift someone’s posture, confidence, and even professional presence. It wasn’t about changing faces. It was about restoring alignment between how someone felt inside and how they presented themselves.
I’ve been influenced by mentors who prioritised restraint over excess. Doctors who believed that the most powerful aesthetic outcome is the one no one can detect. That philosophy shaped my practice.
How has your understanding of fairness changed as you’ve gained experience and seniority?
Early in my career, I thought fairness meant offering access to treatments equally. Today, I understand that fairness means protecting people differently.
In aesthetics, younger women are heavily influenced by social media filters and viral trends. Fairness sometimes means refusing procedures that compromise long-term health. It means protecting patients from their own digital conditioning.
Early in my career, I thought fairness meant offering access to treatments equally. Today, I understand that fairness means protecting people differently.
As a senior practitioner, I see my role less as a service provider and more as a gatekeeper of responsible outcomes.
As conversations around women and work have evolved, what do you think has genuinely improved, and where is more attention needed?
What has improved is agency. Women today openly discuss beauty decisions, career ambitions, and wellness priorities without the secrecy that existed earlier. There is less shame around investing in oneself.
However, what still concerns me is the speed of trend cycles. Young women are exposed to extreme beauty standards at an unprecedented rate. The pressure to look flawless by 25 is real.
We need more education around ageing as a natural process. Preventive aesthetics should be about skin health, collagen preservation, and barrier strength. Not overfilling and chasing perfection.
Is there a project or initiative you’ve worked on related to women’s empowerment that you’re particularly proud of?
I am particularly proud of the consultation-led model I have built at AuraEdge. Every treatment begins with education. We discuss lifestyle, stress, nutrition, and long-term skin strategy before even discussing injectables.
One meaningful initiative has been actively speaking against overfilled trends and viral procedures. Saying no in this industry can be unpopular, but I believe it is essential.
One meaningful initiative has been actively speaking against overfilled trends and viral procedures. Saying no in this industry can be unpopular, but I believe it is essential.
Empowerment for me is not about transformation packages. It is about helping women make decisions they will feel confident about ten years from now.
What responsibility do senior leaders have in shaping more equitable workplaces, beyond statements or policies?
Leaders must normalise boundaries. In medicine, especially aesthetics, the pressure to overdeliver visually dramatic results can be intense.
Senior leaders must create cultures where saying no is respected. Where ethics are rewarded, not penalised. Where young doctors are trained in patient psychology, not just injection techniques.
Equity also means recognising that women practitioners often balance emotional labour with clinical excellence. That must be acknowledged structurally.
What is one change you would like to see in workplaces for the next generation of women?
I would like to see environments where women do not feel the need to look perfect to be taken seriously.
Confidence should not be linked to conformity. Workplaces must embrace authenticity, not aesthetic uniformity.
Quick Hits
A trend you are excited about:
Preventive and regenerative aesthetics. Collagen banking, skin longevity, and inflammation control are redefining how we approach ageing.
A trend I am not excited about:
Overfilled faces driven by viral filters and unrealistic digital standards.
A creative campaign or representation of women that inspired you:
Dove’s “Reverse Selfie” campaign resonated deeply because it addressed how early digital distortion begins and how it impacts young girls’ self-perception.
A piece of advice that stayed with you:
“Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”
In aesthetic medicine, restraint is often the most powerful decision.
